Sharp-tailed Grouse

Sharp-tailed Grouse, male, June

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Sharp-tailed Grouse, male displaying

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1. Description
2. Sound
3. Other Names
4. Cool Facts
5. Full detailed species account

A chicken-like bird of open prairies and parklands, the Sharp-tailed Grouse uses a wider variety of habitats than its close relatives the prairie-chickens.

Description

• Medium to large chicken-like bird.
• Spotted brown and white.
• Short, pointed tail, white at base.
• Wings rather long and rounded in flight.

• Size: 41-47 cm (16-19 in)
• Weight: 596-1031 g (21.04-36.39 ounces)

Sex Differences

Sexes similar, male is larger and has pink to purple sacs on sides of neck.

Sound

Clucks. Displaying male makes odd hoots and rattles tail.

Other Names

Tétras à queue fine (French)

Cool Facts

• Male Sharp-tailed Grouse display to attract females on communal dancing grounds, called leks. The male provides no parental care. A female may visit a lek up to 10 or more times, and she may sample two different leks.

Sources used to construct this page:

Connelly, J. W., M. W. Gratson, and K. P. Reese. 1998. Sharp-tailed Grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus). In The Birds of North America, No. 354 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.